Vitamin E -Natural Health Benefits for Skin & Hair

What are some of the key benefits of Vitamin E for skincare?

Vitamin E is both a nutrient as well as an antioxidant. As an antioxidant, it is known for protecting the body from free radicals that can wreak havoc on our health, both internally and externally.

1. Skin Protectant that Fights Free RadicalsAs an antioxidant, vitamin E is known to help fight free radicals. Studies have shown that when used topically, it can also act as a protectant from skin damage due to sun exposure.

You can look for a natural chemical-free sunscreen that contains antioxidants like vitamin E and C. If you do end up getting too much sun, is vitamin E oil good for a sunburn? Products like vitamin E oil, vitamin E cream or vitamin E ointments can help to aid a sunburn’s healing process.

2. Improves Dry SkinIn general, vitamin E oil is rich and thick and loved by many for its ability to improve dry, flaky skin. Like coconut oil, you can use vitamin E oil on your cuticles and lips to prevent and soothe chapped skin. For dry cuticles, try this DIY Cuticle Cream with Lavender & Myrrh, which very intentionally includes therapeutic vitamin E oil.

Credit: Dr Axe

3. May Help Scars, Reduce the Appearance of Wrinkles & Treat Eczema.Is vitamin E oil good for acne scars? One of many vitamin E oil uses is for scars including acne scars. While research has been mixed, many people tout the helpfulness of vitamin E oil for scars. Not only does it address scars, it helps to combat discoloration or conditions such as "sun spots".

One clinical single-blind study that showed positive results was published in 2010 in the Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery. In this study, child subjects who had recently undergone surgery either had topical vitamin E applied to the incision area for a minimum of 15 days three times daily before surgery and for at least 30 days after surgery two times daily. Meanwhile, the control group had a topical petrolatum-based ointment applied to the incision site in the same manner.

What did they find? There weren’t any children in the vitamin E group who developed scars, but in the control group, 6.5 percent had developed scars after six months.

Eczema symptoms can include itchy and inflamed skin with blisters or crusty patches that may crack open, ooze and become scaly. Research has shown that low doses of vitamin E taken internally can be an effective eczema treatment with no side effects.

When used both internally and externally, antioxidants are known for their ability to fight off free radicals and photo-induced skin aging, including wrinkles and dark spots. It’s not surprising that many of the Top Anti-Aging Oils like jojoba oil naturally contain vitamin E.